Oren austin



0. AUSTIN.

BRIDLE BIT.

.(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

N. PEI'ERS. Phokuljlbognphcr, wamngton. D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE OREN AUSTIN, OF PAINTED POST, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY GREEK, OF SAME PLACE.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,246, dated September 14,1886.

Application filed December 31. 1885. Serial No. 187,274. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OREN AUsTIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Painted Post, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in Whioh- Figure 'lis a perspective view of a portion I 5 of abridle, showing my improved bit applied; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the reins removed from the rings and the bridle-bit removed from the head of the animal.

Similar letters of reference indicate'corre- 2o spending parts in both the figures.

My invention has relation .to bits for bridles; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of a bit having the rings formed into curved hooks, into which 2 5 rings at the ends of the reins maybe hooked,

taking the place of snaps, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters A A indicate the check-pieces of a bridle. B 0 is a bit, which may be of any desired shape and construction, and O O are the rings, which are hinged at the ends of the bit. These rings are constructed each of a nearly circular form opened at its lower portion. The forward 3 5 lower end'of the ring is curved slightly rearward, as shown at G, and the lower rear portion is curved upwardly parallel with the for ward portion, G, and rearward, as seen at J; thus forming a hook, K.- A bar, I, extends o transversely across the center of the ring, slightly above and parallel with the horizontal portion J, being secured at its ends to the forward and rearward portion of the ring, as shown; and immediately above the bar I is an 5 enlargement, F, which will prevent the eye E of thebit B, which is secured to the forward portion of the ring between the enlargement and. the transverse bar, from sliding upon the said forward portion of the ring.

If desired, the bit may be easily attached to slipped off from the hook.

the bar I, having shoulders M, which will pre vent the bit from working out of place. A downwardly-curved bar, N, is secured at one end upon the forward portion of the ring above the enlargement F, and extends transversely across the said ring, and is secured by the other end to the curved portion of the ring above the bar I, thus forming a loop, 0, for the cheek-piece, the lower end of the said cheekpiece being secured into the said loop above the curved bar.

The end of the rein L is provided with a ring or eye, M, which may be slipped upon the upwardly and rearwardly bent hook, the forward portion with the rearward]y-curved end serving as a guide for the ring, which may slide freely upon the curved body portion of the ring, being prevented from slipping off fromthe ring by-mcans of the straight and slightly-curved portion of the ring. The eye upon the. rein may be disengaged by sliding it forward, and thereupon up upon the straight portion of the hook, the lower curved end of the forward pivoted portion of the bit-ring serving to guide the said ring when it may be It will be seen that this contrivance will secure the ends of the reins as effectually as a snap, and at the same time the rings or eyes upon the ends of the reins may be hooked into the bit-rings, 8c and be disengaged from the same with greater case than by unhooking snap-hooks, a person being able to engage and disengage the rings or eyes with numbed hands, or with hands covered with heavy mittens, or with otherwise 8: impeded hands, as it is merely necessary to guide the rings or eyes upon the reins around the curves of. the bit-rings, while a snap-hook will. requiremore delicate and exact handling to displace the spring or bolt which bears c against the end of the hook.

, The hooked bit-rings may be made of any size and may be applied to any shape of bit, either to a link-bit or to a stiff bit, or may be formed at the lower ends of the bars in a bit 9, having bars at the sides, the said hooked rings being applicable to any shape of bit where it is required to have .an easily-disengaged fastening for reins.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1i and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the taohment of the cheek-straps, the whole (2011- United States strueted and eombined. substantially as and for In a bridlebit, a ring comprising the l'ol the purpose, shown and S017 'l'orth. lowin )arts: an 0 )en lower )art having a In testinlon that I claim the flu-(" ein as 1 o 1 1 .7 y p 5 curved slot or inlet, atransverse erosS bar my own I have hereunto affixed my signature having shoulders adapted to hold the bit in in presenee of two witnesses.

place, a hook forming an integral part of the l T MIN ring parallel to and below the said eross'bar, ORDL AUSL a shoulder or enlargement above the trans- \Vitnesses:

1o verse eross-bar on one side of the ring, and a \VILLIS M. EDWARDS,

loop in the upper part of the ring for the at JAMES Z. \VILDER. 

